Hollands



March 24, 1964 G. HOLLANDS FOLDING PARTITION SEAL Filed Sept. '7, 1961 2Sheets-Sheet l wf A UMA/5y March 24, 1964 G. HoLLANDs FOLDING PARTITIONSEAL Filed spt. 7. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent York FiledSept. 7 1961, Ser. No. 136,554 3 Claims. (Cl. 16S-40) This inventionrelates to a folding partition assembly and more particularly to asliding partition which comprises a series of generally rectilinearpanels hingedly connected to each other. The panels are slideablysupported on an overhead track and may be shifted along said track toextended or edge to edge relation for use as a partition, room divideror the like, or the panels may be folded accordion-like into stackedside by .side position for storage.

In the co-pending application of Lapof, S.N. 6,963, tiled February 5,1960, now abandoned, there is described a folding partition structure ofthe type described wherein the panels are provided at their lower edgeportions with iioor seais which, in the extended or partition formingcondition of the assembly, are pneumatically actuated to extend belowthe lower panel edges and into engagement with the floor. The spacebetween the lioor and lower panel edges is thus spanned in effect by anextensible segment of the panel, thereby anchoring the lower panel edgesagainst lateral movement and at the same time reducing the transmissionof sound from one side to the other side of the panels.

In certain applications, it is particularly important to reduce soundtransmission to an even lower level than that accomplished by thestructure of the device of the aforementioned pending application. In aschool gymnasium or auditorium, for instance, concurrent activities maybe scheduled simultaneously at different locations within one largeroom, a folding partition being utilized to isolate the locations.

In the past, even the most advanced partition, such as is exemplified bythe aforesaid co-pending application, has not provided the degree ofsound and draft reduction desired in critical situations. This inventionrelates to an improved folding partition assembly which provides agreater degree of isolation than heretofore obtained or obtainable withsuch a structure.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide plural panelmembers which may be slideably extended to form a partition whichpartition forms a highly eflicient barrier between the areas therebyseparated. A further object of this invention is to provide a slidingpartition comprising a series of panels, which partition is sealed atits upper and lower edges to the adjacent partition surroundingstructures.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide in a slideablepartition assembly, comprising panels hung from a support track, novelmeans for forming a seal at the top edge of the panels, which seal isretracted during translatory movement of the panels to and from storedposition to prevent interference of the seal with the movement of thepanels. A further object of this invention is the provision of a simpleyet highly eilicient seal member for lilling the space between the upperedge of a sliding partition and an overhead structure.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide pneumaticallyactuated top and bottom seals having a cooperative relation therebetweenwhereby the actuation of the seals is automatically timed to assure thatinflation of the said seals will not cant or tilt the partition.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a slidingpartition having top and bottom pneumatic seals wherein the top sealsserve, in addition to closing the space between the upper edges of thepanels and the upper support structure, to form a reservoir for thelower floor seals, thereby eliminating the necessity for frequentcycling of the air-compressor to keep the pressure in the system Withina selected range.

Other and further objects of this invention will hereafter becomeapparent in conjunction with a description of the accompanying drawingsin which- FIG. 1 is a front elevational View of a pair of partitions naccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a magnified fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 2-2of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a magnified fragmentary section taken on line 3 3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a magnified fragmentary section taken on line 4 4 of FIG. l;

FIG. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

In accordance with the invention, a seriesI of panel members 10slideably and pivotally hung from a horizontally disposed track 11suitably secured to a crossbeam or like horizontal load bearing support.The track 11, which is conventional in design, has a generally AU-snaped cross-sectional conformation, the free ends 12, 13 of theU-shaped track being downwardly directed and bent inwardly or towardeach other to provide spaced trough-like guide supports. Each alternatepanel 10 is provided at a central portion thereof, with a rollercarriage member 20 including a bracket support 21 secured within thepanel 10, a vertically extending hanger rod 22 rotatably supported inbracket 21 and support rollers 23, 24 secured to rod 22 and riding inguide troughs 13 and 12, respectively.

Each panel 10 is hingedly connected to another at the contiguousvertical edges E by oppositely handed hinges (not shown), it beingunderstood that the panels, as in conventional assemblies of this typemay be folded accordion-like to a collapsed side by side relation orextended as shown in FIG. 1 to form a divider or partition. Optionally,but preferably, the panels 10 are shifted to and from stored position bya chain drive Ch, secured to lead panel 10a and driven by motor M, itbeing understood that in certain applications, i.e., where the panelsare small and few in number, motorized means for shifting the panels maybe dispensed with.

The panels 10 are mortised or otherwise formed with downwardly directedhollow portions 30, within which portions floor seal members 31 arereciprocably mounted. The seal members 31 include lower or foot portions32 of sponge rubber or like pliant conforming material, to aid inproviding a seal beneath the panels despite irregularities of the floorsurface. The seal members 31 are normally maintained in an upwardlyreciprocated position (dot and dash lines FIG. 1), by means of coiltension springs 33 (see FIG. 1), secured at their lower ends to theupper edges of seals 31 and at their upper ends to the undersides oflongitudinally extending struts 34 fixed within the panels 10.

The lioor seal is shifted from the aforesaid normally raised position byinflatable bladders 36 interposed between hollow shell-like enclosures37 carried by the seal 31 and block members 38 depending from struts 34.The bladders 36 are normally pressed fiat by the action of springs 33but, upon inflation, cause the seals 31 and asso ciated structure to beshifted downwardly and into floor engagement. The bladders 36 areconnected in series by conduits 39, the first or innermost bladder 36abeing connected to compressor 40 by conduit 39a. It will be understoodthat there is only one connection to the outermost bladder Sb. The lowerseal construction is substantially in accordance with the structuredescribed and illustrated in the aforesaid application, although thedescription herein is suicient to an understanding of the presentinvention.

The space between the top edges 15 of the panels 10 and the fixedoverhead support structure is filled when the panels are extended, by anelongated expansible and inflatable top seal or bladder 42. The bladder42 is secured to an extended guideway member comprising a horizontallyextended leg or ledge portion 43 disposed above a part of the top edgesof the panels 19, and a vertically extended leg or ledge portion 44disposed along a portion of the sides 16 of the panels 1t). The leg 44ain the folding zone Z of the panels 10 does not extend below theuppermost edge 15 of the panels 10 so as not to interfere with thefolding of the panels as the same are shifted to or from stackedcondition.

The bladder 42 is preferably composed of neoprene or a like distensiblematerial, and is so formed as to lie flat when not inflated. The bladder42 includes a central air chamber 42a and appendages or fins 42h, 42Cwhich are integral with the bladder yet do not communicate with the airchamber 42a;

The bladder 42 is mounted in the guideway member by means of nails,screws or the like 46 driven through tins 42b, 42e and into theguideway. Optionally, but preferably, the fin 42h is secured within amortise 4411 formed on leg 44. The secured bladder, as best seen inFIGS. 3 and 4, assumes an L-shape by conforming to the right angularjunction between legs 43 and' 44, thus providing a slight bagging orexcess of material at said junction. The remote end 42d (see FIG. 5) ofthe bladder 42 is sealed to prevent air leakage, the frame adjacentend`42e of said bladder being connected by T joint 4S to conduit 39a andto the output of compressor C.

The circuitry for operating drive motor M and compressor C is simple andconventional and will be fully understood by those skilled in the artand accordingly will be described functionally herein.

A starter switch 60 regulates the motor M and actuation thereof willcause. the motor to activate chain drive Ch causing the panels 10to beshifted from stacked position to extended position. In the Course of themovement aforesaid (as Well as in the retractive movement or collapsingof the panels), there is no pressure on the lines 39a or 47. The bladder42, by reason of its tendency to maintain itself in a collapsedcondition, is held clear of interference with the top edges 15 of panels10. Similarly, springs 33 keep seals 31 clear of the oor.

When the lead panel 10a reaches the fully extended position, laterallydirected actuator bracket 62 engages limit switch 63, deactivating motorM and causing the compressor C to charge bladders 42 and 36 of the upperand lower seals, respectively.

Preferably, bladder 42. and springs 33 are selected to provide abalanced interrelation whereby the bladders willV be inated by steps insequence. In the preferred sequence, the initial pressure inilates thebladder 42 without distending the walls thereof to the intermediateposition shown in FIG. 3. The springs 3.3 are of a tension selected topermit the gradual downward movement of the seals 31 only after thebladder 42 has been fully inflated, but before the bladder has begun todistend. When further expansion of the bladders 36 is prevented by floorengaging contact of the seals 31, the fully inflated bladder 42isdistended to substantially fill the channel dened by legs 43, 44, andthe top edges 15 of panels 10. A tight closure is thus formed betweenthe upper edges of the panel and the supporting overhead structure.

The compressor is provided with high and low limit controls which may beset at selected levels so that the compressor will operate to raise thepressure to a desired level and will permit the pressure in the systemto sink to a given lower level prior to again actuating the compressor.By this method, slow leaks in the system will not cause frequent cyclingof the compressor. Preferably, the pressure values in the system will beabout l0 to 2O pounds per square inch, suggested limit values being acut off at about 17 p.s.i. and a reactivation of the. compressor atabout 13 p.s.i. Moreover, strain on the compressor due to frequentcycling is further reduced by reason of the interrelation shift of thebladders 42 and 36, in that the former acts as a reservoir for thelatter to assure that the floor seals will be kept tightly in contactwith the door, notwithstanding a slight drop in pressure in the system.The system acts in the aforesaid manner since the first effect of apressure decrease in the systemA will be a slight shrinking of bladder42 from the fully distended condition thereof. The floor seals arenonetheless kept tightly against tlie oor since the pressure required toseat the door seals is less that the pressure required to distend thetop seal. By reason of the reservoir edect of the distensible top seal,it is possible to provide, as previously indicated, a 4 p.s.i.,diderenti'al value between activation and deactivation of thecompressor, whereas. in the structure of the co-pending application adifferential of about 2 p.s.i. must be utilized to maintain the iioorseals in tight contact with the door. Obviously, the larger differentialpermitted with the present device will reduce by about one-half therecycling of the compressor.

A further advantage of providing seal members which act in the mannerand order aforesaid, is that no tilting of the partition by prematureinflation of the tgp seal is possible. To illustrate, if full expansionof the top seal were effected prior to the floor seals being projectedinto engagement with the floor, a tilting action of the panels would beobserved. This tilting action would be occasioned by the off-centerpositioning of the top seal member. However, by projecting the oor sealprior to full expansion of the top seal member, the bottom of the panelsis firmly anchored against lateral deflection with respect to the floorprior to the generation ofthe panel deecting force (by the top seal).Also, the L-shaped conformation assumed by thetop seal 42 assures thatat least a part of said seal will be in contact with the top edge 15 ofthe panels even when the seal is not fully distended.

When it is desired to close or store the partition, the switch 60 is setto the reverse position, reverse actuation of the said switch beingarranged, by known circuitry, to bleed the pneumatic circuit prior toactuating motor M. The motor M is then effective, through chain driveCh, to return the panels to the stacked condition thereof.

While the invention is illustrated in conjunction with two partitionassemblies, it will be obvious that any number may be employed.Likewise, it is clear that two or more partition units may be wired tobe simultaneously or independently actuable.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claimas new and seek to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A folding partition assembly having a plurality of hingedlyconnected, generally rectangular panel members slideably hung from anoverhead support track and shiftable therealong from an edge to edgeextended condition to a side by side stacked condition, an extendedguideway member paralleling said track and including ahorizontallydisposed leg portion and vertically disposed leg portion, said legportions in the extended condition of said panels, lying in proximatespaced relation, respectively, to portions of the upper edges and sidesof said panels, said guideway portion defining with the upper edges ofsaid panels a generally rectilinear channel portion having a verticallydisposed, open-mouth portion, a horizon-v tally extendingl inflatableseal member secured to said guideway Within said channel portion andlying adjacent the uppermost portion thereof, said seal member beingformed of resilient distensible material said seal member including wallportions elastically drawn to a first, relatively closely adjacentposition with respect to each other in the uninated condition of saidseal, said wall portions becoming more widely separated when said sealis inflated, vertically shiftable floor seals carried by saidv panels,and pneumatic means interposed between saidiioor seals and said panelsfor shifting said seals into floor engaging position, said pneumaticmeans and said inflatable seal member being connectible to a commoninflation source.

2. A device in accordance with claim l wherein said seal member isgenerally L-shaped in cross-section in the. uninated condition thereof,and assumes a generally rectangular condition in the inated conditionthereof.

3. A folding partition assembly having a plurality of hingedlyconnected, generally rectangular panel members slidably hung from anoverhead support track and shiftable therealong from edge-to-edgeextended condition to a side-by-side stacked condition, oor sealscarried by said panels adjacent the lower edges thereof, said floorseals including pneumatic expansion chambers inflatable to shift saidtioor seals downwardly into floor engaging position, spring means urgingsaid floor seals to a normally raised position clear of said oor, anextended guideway member paralleling said track and including elementslying in proximate spaced relation to the upper edges of said panels andside portions, said elements and the upper edges of said panels togetherdefining a channel which is open on one side to provide a mouth portion,a horizontally extending, inflatable upper seal member supported in saidguideway above said upper edges, said upper seal member beingdistensible under inflating pressures, said upper seal, in the deflatedcondition, being clear of said upper edges and in the distended,inflated condition, engaging said upper edges, a common source of gasunder pressure connected to said expansion charnbers of said floor sealsand said upper seal member, the pressure required to distend said upperseal member being in excess of the pressure required to maintain saidfloor seals in oor engaging position, whereby said upper seal member,when distended, acts as a reservoir to maintain said oor seals in oorengaging position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS583,375 Hood May 25, 1897 607,826 Burger et al. July 26, 1898 1,796,660Morse Mar. 17, 1931 1,806,859 Mattei May 26, 1931 2,469,131 Ross May 3,1949 2,757,225 Dunn July 31, 1956 2,929,445 Haws Mar. 22, 1960 2,945,535Haws July 19, 1960 3,086,261 Lapof Apr. 23, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 986,854France Aug. 6, 1951

1. A FOLDING PARTITION ASSEMBLY HAVING A PLURALITY OF HINGEDLYCONNECTED, GENERALLY RECTANGULAR PANEL MEMBERS SLIDEABLY HUNG FROM ANOVERHEAD SUPPORT TRACK AND SHIFTABLE THEREALONG FROM AN EDGE TO EDGEEXTENDED CONDITION TO A SIDE BY SIDE STACKED CONDITION, AN EXTENDEDGUIDEWAY MEMBER PARALLELING SAID TRACK AND INCLUDING A HORIZONTALLYDISPOSED LEG PORTION AND VERTICALLY DISPOSED LEG PORTION, SAID LEGPORTIONS IN THE EXTENDED CONDITION OF SAID PANELS, LYING IN PROXIMATESPACED RELATION, RESPECTIVELY, TO PORTIONS OF THE UPPER EDGES AND SIDESOF SAID PANELS, SAID GUIDEWAY PORTION DEFINING WITH THE UPPER EDGES OFSAID PANELS A GENERALLY RECTILINEAR CHANNEL PORTION HAVING A VERTICALLYDISPOSED, OPEN-MOUTH PORTION, A HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING INFLATABLE SEALMEMBER SECURED TO SAID GUIDEWAY WITHIN SAID CHANNEL PORTION AND LYINGADJACENT THE UPPERMOST PORTION THEREOF, SAID SEAL MEMBER BEING FORMED OFRESILIENT DISTENSIBLE MATERIAL SAID SEAL MEMBER INCLUDING WALL PORTIONSELASTICALLY DRAWN TO A FIRST, RELATIVELY CLOSELY ADJACENT POSITION WITHRESPECT TO EACH OTHER IN THE UNINFLATED CONDITION OF SAID SEAL, SAIDWALL PORTIONS BECOMING MORE WIDELY SEPARATED WHEN SAID SEAL IS INFLATED,VERTICALLY SHIFTABLE FLOOR SEALS CARRIED BY SAID PANELS, AND PNEUMATICMEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID FLOOR SEALS AND SAID PANELS FOR SHIFTINGSAID SEALS INTO FLOOR ENGAGING POSITION, SAID PNEUMATIC MEANS AND SAIDINFLATABLE SEAL MEMBER BEING CONNECTIBLE TO A COMMON INFLATION SOURCE.